Sabres News

JEANNERET AND HAWERCHUK HEADED TO SABRES HALL OF FAME

by
Staff Writer
/ Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame Selection Committee today announced the induction of Rick Jeanneret and Dale Hawerchuk into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame. Jeanneret, the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in NHL history, and Hawerchuk, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, were selected based on their outstanding contributions to the sport of hockey and the Buffalo Sabres organization.

The pair will officially be inducted as the 36th and 37th members of the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame during a ceremony before the team’s game against the Winnipeg Jets on November 8.

With his vast knowledge of the game and his unwavering enthusiasm for hockey, Jeanneret’s distinct voice has been synonymous with the Buffalo Sabres for four decades. He began his prolific career with the Sabres in the 1971-72 season as the club’s radio play-by-play announcer and served primarily in that role until 1995, when he would also begin calling the action for the team’s televised games. His memorable calls and player nicknames have become forever linked with Sabres history for generations of fans.

Jeanneret’s career officially began in 1963, when the St. Catharines, Ont. native filled in for the regular announcer at a Niagara Falls Flyers (Junior A) game. He went on to become the color analyst for one season before moving to the play-by-play position in 1965.

Jeanneret joins his longtime friend and colleague, Ted Darling, and his broadcast partner of over 10 years, Jim Lorentz, in the Sabres Hall of Fame. Darling, the original “Voice of the Sabres” was inducted in 1996 and Lorentz was a member of the 2010 class.

Hawerchuk, who was traded to the Sabres during the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, was a consistent force for the team for five seasons, averaging more than a point per game during his tenure with the club. He led the Sabres in scoring for three seasons (1990-91, 1991-92 and 1993-94). Hawerchuk led the team in assists in 1990-91 (58) and 1991-92 (75), and was the team’s overall leader in goals (35), assists (51) and points (86) in the 1993-94 season. His assists totals for the 1992-93 and 1991-92 seasons rank second and third, respectively, for most assists in a single season in team history.

Prior to his time with the Sabres, Hawerchuk played nine seasons with the Winnipeg Jets and won the 1982 Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. After the Sabres, he played for the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers and eventually retired after 16 seasons in the NHL. Hawerchuk became the 23rd player to reach the 500-goal plateau in 1995-96 and the 31st player to record 1,000 points in 1990-91. During his career, the Toronto native amassed 518 goals, 891 assists and 1,409 points, placing him 10th on the career NHL points list at the time of his retirement.